Total Pageviews

Wednesday, January 13, 2016

'70s franchise films featuring Rocky Balboa, Mad Max and Han Solo factor into most of Thursday's nominations. It's been the most unpredictable award season in decades. The SAG, Critics and Golden Globe awards have differed dramatically, but bet on The Academy to act its own way— and bet on these picks below:

BEST PICTURE

The Big Short

Bridge of Spies

Brooklyn

Carol

Mad Max: Fury Road

The Martian

The Revenant

Room

Spotlight

Straight Outta Compton

Spoiler: Star Wars: The Force Awakens

DIRECTOR

Todd Haynes, Carol

Alejandro G.
Inarritu, The Revenant

Thomas McCarthy, Spotlight

George Miller, Mad Max: Fury Road

Ridley Scott, The Martian

Spoiler: McKay, The Big Short

ACTOR

Bryan Cranston,
Trumbo

Matt Damon, The
Martian

Leonardo DiCaprio,
The Revenant

Eddie Redmayne,
The Danish Girl

Michael B. Jordan,
Creed

Spoiler: Michael Fassbender, Steve Jobs

ACTRESS

Cate Blanchett,
Carol

Brie Larson, Room

Saoirse Ronan,
Brooklyn

Charlotte
Rampling, 45 Years

Alicia Vikander, The Danish Girl

Spoiler: Jennifer Lawrence,
Joy Alicia Vikander bumps to lead for The Danish Girl

Friday, January 8, 2016

The Hollywood Foreign Press is as
unpredictable as host Ricky Gervais, but I have an 82% correct prediction rate that
could help you win your awards pool (or look really darn smart during the telecast). One
prediction that I’ll get 100% correct: there will be no sweep this year. This group
will spread the love across many movies.

Best Motion Picture – Drama

Prediction: Spotlight

Spoiler: Mad
Max: Fury Road

Surprise: The
Revenant

They’ll be tempted to stand out with an
edgy pick, but bet on this collection of foreign journalists to choose a
prestige film about truth in journalism

Best Motion Picture – Comedy or
MusicalPrediction: The Big Short

Spoiler: Trainwreck

Surprise: The
Martian

20th Century Fox’s decision
to submit The Martian in the Comedy
category should backfire and lose to a film with actual humor. Don’t be shocked
if Trainwreck is this year’s Hangover, which won Best Motion Picture
in this category in 2010.

Best Director – Motion Picture

Prediction: Ridley Scott, The Martian

Spoiler:Tom McCarthy, Spotlight

Surprise:George Miller, Mad Max: Fury Road

This is the year to celebrate Ridley Scott.

Best Actor in a Motion Picture
– Drama

Prediction: Leonardo DiCaprio, The Revenant

Spoiler:Bryan Cranston, Trumbo

Surprise:Anyone else would be truly shocking

You don’t get attacked by a CGI bear and lose,
unless you’re in a competition with Bryan Cranston of course.

Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama

Prediction: Brie Larson, Room

Spoiler:Saoirse Ronan, Brooklyn

Surprise:Alicia Vikander, The Danish Girl

Give Brie the edge for performing in
this year’s most somber movie (Room) and
funniest (Trainwreck). The Carol girls should cancel each other
out.

Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Comedy or MusicalPrediction: Christian Bale, The Big Short

Spoiler:Matt Damon, The Martian

Surprise:Steve Carell, The Big Short

Damon is in every scene of The Martian. That said, Christian Bale
is more memorable.

Best Actress in a Motion
Picture – Comedy

Prediction: Amy Schumer, Trainwreck

Spoiler:Jennifer Lawrence, Joy

Surprise:Lily Tomlin, Grandma

Truly the comedian of the year, Amy
should win and everyone knows Jennifer Lawrence wants her to win as well.

Best Supporting Actor in a
Motion Picture

Prediction: Mark Rylance, Bridge of Spies

Spoiler:Sylvester Stallone, Creed

Surprise:Paul Dano, Love & Mercy

I predict Oscar will be in Stallone’s
corner, but I’m betting Mark Rylance’s captivating character edges Rocky out at
the Globes.

Best Supporting Actress in a
Motion Picture

Prediction: Alicia Vikander, Ex Machina

Spoiler:Helen Mirren, Trumbo

Surprise:Jennifer Jason Leigh, The Hateful Eight

A tough category, but this is their best chance to
pick an edgy choice. Alicia’s performance in The Danish Girl gives her an edge of the more predictable choice of
Helen Mirren.

When I look at the best films
of 2015, I realize that Brooklyn
had my heart Spotlight had my head
and TheBig Short got about everything else.

To put it shortly: It’s one my top five favorites of
the past year. (Two thrillers, Bridge of
Spies and Jurassic World, round
out that list.)

It’s an impressive feat. Not only is this a film focused
on the details of the credit and housing bubble collapse of the
mid-2000s but also it’s a tragic film from Adam McKay, a director known only for
comedy. You may know his films: Step
Brothers, Anchorman, Anchorman 2 and Talladega Nights: The Legend of Ricky Bobby.

The
Big Short is a timely morality tale that explores the implications of
opportunity and fraud, yet somehow it’s loads of fun. Hollywood: 1 Wall Street:
0.

Simply put: It’s a big, ambitious film that delivers.

Award potential: Expect Oscar nominations for Best Picture, Screenplay, Editing and
more. Christian Bale has the edge as the stand out to grab a Supporting Actor nod. Expect the full
cast to battle Spotlight for SAG’s
ensemble award.

Steven Zaillian and Aaron Sorkin’s screenplay for author Michael
Lewis’ Moneyball found more brilliant
ways to explain tough subjects, but Charles
Randolph and Adam
McKay’s take on Michael Lewis’ The Big Short was hilarious. It will be the
front runner for Best Adapted Screenplay.